About a year ago in an effort to prioritize reconciliation, the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation held community forums in Regina, which focused on engaging residents to increase understanding, share stories and build support.

With a keynote lecture by Saskatchewan journalist Doug Cuthand, the forums brought people together to explore their visions of successful reconciliation, strategies for the future and what is already being done in support of reconciliation here.

The forums— called Vital Conversations — were held to identify what work is being done in the community and explore ways the SSCF could support and advance those priorities.

“When we think about building on the successes, (we’re) looking at organizations like the University of Regina, for instance, and the good work they’re doing,” said Karen Henders, SSCF director of programs and operations. “We’re seeing an increased rate of (Indigenous) enrolment.”

The forums, which took place in October 2017, were an expansion on the theme Pursuing Reconciliation, which SSCF highlighted in the 2016 Vital Signs report — an annual report that measures the health and vitality of a community with the goal of guiding efforts to the places and people who need it most.

Released annually in partnership with the Vital Signs Community Network and Community Foundation of Canada, the 2018 report was launched Thursday morning and covers important community work being done in the areas of reconciliation, welcoming newcomers, building economic inclusion, arts and culture, early learning, seniors services, food security and homelessness.

“As a community foundation, our hope is that we connect people who want to do good with the good work in our community,” said Henders. “This report is a way to actually help people understand the needs of our community and also the good work that’s already happening, and ways that they can actually contribute to make it even better.”

The report outlines some feedback from those who participated in the Vital Conversation around reconciliation.

“Participants hoped that in 20 years the City of Regina would be a national leader in reconciliation, that all Regina citizens would have an understanding and appreciation of Indigenous history and cultures, and that there would be a physical space in Regina for people to learn and celebrate Indigenous cultures,” reads the report.

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According to the report, participants acknowledged the importance of including everyone in reconciliation, and suggested that tangible metrics be used to measure the progress in terms of pursuing reconciliation, including increasing Indigenous graduation rates, Indigenous representation among decision-makers, the number of Indigenous language speakers and more.

They also pointed to events and programs going on in Regina like Treaty 4 days and blanket exercises, and highlighted educational institutions like University of Regina and First Nations University of Canada.

Data included in the report shows 12.7 per cent of students at the U of R self-identify as First Nation, Metis or Inuit, which is an increase of 90 per cent since 2010.

As a bridge between donors and charities in Regina and in southern Saskatchewan, SSCF made donations related to Pursuing Reconciliation, which included a $25,000 donation courtesy of the G. Murray and Edna Forbes Foundation Fund, to Student Energy in Action for Regina Community Health Inc. (SEARCH), a student-run interdisciplinary primary health care initiative located in North Central.

A $6,000 donation was also made to Touchwood File Hills Qu’Appelle (TFHQ) Safe Shelter Incorporated, to be split between Wichihik Iskwewak Safe House and Qu’Appelle Haven Safe Shelter.

Henders said the Vital Signs report is unique because it combines local knowledge with census data to give a snapshot of the community, but that it’s not necessarily the whole picture.

“This report is not the only way to understand the needs of your community,” she said. “We do encourage people to read it and to be inspired to perhaps continue discussions … and to look to ways that they can help contribute to a better quality of life in our communities.”

The SSCF has an endowment pool of just over $71 million. It supported more than 195 registered charities and granted $6.2 million in 2017.

Visit the South Saskatchewan Community Foundation website at www.sscf.ca to read the full report.

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